The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-06-01
Our Harrisburg Letter.
From o'sr sgseiti f5yresp,mdenk
~ 80

HsEREsrae. May y. 1851
The State Capital has a decidedly deserted
appearance to-day. from one week ago. Then
the members were scattered here and there.
taking leave OF each other. soine in rather an
affecting manner, while others were packing
their all in grip--ack preparatory to final
leaving At this time no, one member is to
be found ir The State Capital, and Il has
very decidedly deserted appearance, and is
quite lonely
Harrisburg without the legislature. is like
fish out Of water-even the newspaper man
does not know what 20 do with himself. II
is an overgrewn. great biz town little or no
business seems to b. done. and there il raih-
er a sad, woe-begone look upon the face Of
everyone While they took a great deal Of
pleasure in observing the Legislature while
in session and finding fault with the mem
bers and looking npon them with suspicion.
yet they seem To miss them and regret their
leaving. The place has about 10000 iDhab-
itants, and has improved very much Of late
Steelt0n, place FIVE miles below the city
has become quite manufacturing place Of
iron and steel, and has increased the busi-
mes Of the city considerably II has improg-
ed very great deal Of Iate, and what at
one time was acres Of fields, with the histor-
ic Camp Curtin during the war. IS now built
into good dwelling and business houses In
meandering over these grounds one cannot
hut .f4
years has brought about the men Who'll have
disappeared from the scene OF action, and
Others who have taken their place.
Itis said that the present Legislature was
above the average in point Of respecta-
ability, and that there was a disposition on
the part Of the Harrisburg people TO relent
some of their stiffness. and admit the
better legislators into society This state
ment must be taken with some allow
ance. While there are those who look with
some favor upon the members, either from a
business or a political standpoint, large ma
jority of the people are cold, selfish and in
hospitahle, and do not seem 20 care to min
gle with the law-nakers which is contrary
10 the spirit Of this great chureh-going place
On the other hand. It must be admitted that
there are not a few who find their way 10 the
Legislative halls that are not fit for decent
people 70 associate with. Il is very hard for
the people to draw the line aud they are in
some sense excusable. Still, much more
might be done to make the stay of the mem
bers pleasant, and 70 banish the unpleasant
feeling between them and the good people
Of the state Capital
These are reflections which came to my
mind as walked this afternoon along Front
street, and the beautiful river Susquehanna,
which is the one re'leeming feauture Of the
city. There are many elegant residences on
this street-wealth and elegance abound
Here lives the sage and patriot, Simon Cam
eron his son, Hon. j. Donald Cameron. L.
:. Senator and many more less noted, but
equally wealthy persons.
The remains Of old Mr. Harris. the founder
of the city, are inferred in grave on the
banks of the river, midway in the city. en-
closed BY an iron fence, with the stump Of
the tree to which he had been tied by the In
dians, with bundle Of sticks. indicating he
was to be burned at the stake the stump is
well preserved with putty and paint-a plain
headstone marks the resting place Of this old
pioneer, giving the date Of his death, and
that he was member the Church of Eng
land. Another object of interest at the State
Capitol is the e flag room This is the
room in which are deposited the different
flags of the various regiments Of the State
who fought in the war Of the rebellion each
flag has its proper place, with the number of
the regiment. and something of the history
to some Of them. II is pleasant place 10
spend Few hours, and many a SCARED hero
looks upon the dag Of bis country which he
followed 50 bravely during the war some
thing concerning the nature and extent of
the legislation was expected, but this must
be deferred for more convenient season. as
your correspondent still fingers on the banks
of the Susqnehanna PHILIP.